Anyone have a gorgonian dominated reef?

[delphinus]

Not really a "gorg dominated" tank per se, but here's a pic showing a couple gorgs. Hope it's OK to share here.
I loooove gorgs and am trying to find a way to get my hands on a few others (photosynthetic only, I'm not really into trying to keep on top of feeding the filter feeding variety, in my experience anyhow it's not been a good scene, mostly I just crater my tank from too many nutrients. Whereas the photosynthetic ones are just as nice, and way easier to keep happy.)

 

[Gluestick]

delphinus, great looking tank! What is that tang you have in there?

 

[delphinus]

Thanks He's a Zebrasoma desjardini or "Red Sea Sailfin" tang.

I should mention that this is the side of my 75g looking down lengthways. It's not as cramped as it looks like from this direction.

 

[Gluestick]

Does he do well in a 75 gallon? How big do they get?

 

[delphinus]

It's been his home for about 4 years now. He's doing OK in there (he is definitely the king of the tank), but he is at the point where he needs to go into a bigger tank. I have a 280g (72x30x30) that I'm going to be setting up in the coming months (hope to have it ready before the end of the year). Right now he's about 6"-7" head to tail. They can definitely get larger.

 

[beez]

Some beautiful pics!!! Thanks everyone for sharing!!

 

[scuba_josh]

gorgonians shedding.

I've read that gorgonians shed their outer layer occasionaly. does anyone have a picute of this happening, or can you describe what the process is?

 

[delphinus]

I haven't noticed it on my corky finger but my purple frilly seems to shed at least once a week. Don't have any pics but for about a day there will be no polyp extension and a sort of thin brown film, almost looks like algae or slime, sorta gets blown off. A day later it looks fine again.

 

[scuba_josh]

that's what I was wondering about.

thanks.

 

[djmuzzi]

delphinus:
Sealifeinc. has awsome photosynthetic gorgonians!

 

[paeSona]

tom obrecht that is probabley number two of the nicest tanks i have ever seen i think you have to manny fish but your filter is nuts nice refugium and evything else is rediculous you must be rich

 

[Loralie]

There is a guy in FL who sells some pretty cool Gorgs. he is a www.divertom.com

 

[chrisdaphish]

how can u tell if a gorg/seafan is photosynthetic or not? or are all of them.. not.

 

[scuba_josh]

white polyps is probably a sign that they're not photosynthetic.

brown-ish polyps is an indicator that there is zooanthelle in the polyps.

there are a few readily available photosynthetic "purple stem w/ brownish polyps" gorgonians, and have growth patterns in both 2-dimensional branching, and 360 degree branching. I've also seen red base with blue polyps, and purple base with bright yellow polyps, but I'm not sure if those are photosynthetic. even though its photosynthetic, I'm sure it would benefit from weekly feedings of some zoo or phytoplankton. Oddly enough, I've even seen mine try to grab and eat brine shrimp.

hope this helps.

 

[Gluestick]

check out the ones this guy has, under soft corals i think www.sealifeflorida.com

 

[delphinus]

Generally, as scuba_josh said, you can use polyp colour to tell apart the photosynthetic from the non-photosynthetic. However the photosynthetic ones will benefit greatly from planktonic feedings. My gorgs go nuts over cyclops-eeze.

All of the species listed in this article are photosynthetic:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2004/invert.htm

 

[SLODEN53]

I have a purple gorgonian which has some red leaves growing on a couple of branches. I can't find any information as to what this is. It is really pretty and looks like red leaves on a tree. I am pretty sure it is not some kind of algae as I don't have an algae problem in my tank, including red algae.

Anyone know what this is? I have had this gorgonian for about 6 weeks and the red "blooms" started after I put it in my tank.

My lawnmower blenny is really messing around with this gorg and takes a branch shaking "bite" whenever he goes by it and also is starting to grab and tear off this pretty red stuff! I don't really want him to do this...

Susie